Abstract: In a general framework, valid for any H -> H' l(-)(v) over bar (l) semileptonic decay, we analyze the d(2)Gamma/(d omega d cos theta(l)) and d(2)Gamma/(d omega dE(l)) distributions, with omega being the product of the hadron four-velocities, theta(l) the angle made by the three-momenta of the charged lepton and the final hadron in the W- center of mass frame and E-l the charged lepton energy in the decaying hadron rest frame. Within the Standard Model (SM), d(2)Gamma/(d omega dE(l)) proportional to (c(0) (omega) c(1) (omega)E-l/M + c(2) (omega)E-l(2)/M-2), with M the initial hadron mass. We find that c(2) (omega) is independent of the lepton flavor and thus it is an ideal candidate to look for lepton flavor universality (LFU) violations. We also find a correlation between the a(2) (omega) structure function, which governs the (cos theta(l))(2) dependence of d(2)Gamma/(d omega d cos theta(l)), and c(2) (omega). Apart from trivial kinematical and mass factors, the ratio of a(2) (omega)/c(2) (omega) is a universal function that can be measured in any semileptonic decay, involving not only b -> c transitions. These two SM predictions can be used as new tests in the present search for signatures of LFU violations. We also generalize the formalism to account for some new physics (NP) terms, and show that neither c(2) nor a(2) are modified by left and right scalar NP terms, being however sensitive to left and right vector corrections. We also find that the a(2)/c(2) ratio is not modified by these latter NP contributions. Finally, and in order to illustrate our findings, we apply our general framework to the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c)l (v) over bar (l) decay. We show that a measurement of c(2) (or a(2)) for tau decay would not only be a direct measurement of the possible existence of NP, but it would also allow to distinguish from NP fits to b -> c tau(v) over bar (tau) anomalies in the meson sector, which otherwise give the same total and differential d Gamma/d omega widths. We show that the same occurs for the other two terms, c(0) and c(1), that appear in d(2)Gamma/(d omega dE(l)), and for the cos theta(l) linear term of the angular distribution.

Abstract: A new model-independent parametrization is proposed for the hadronic form factors in the semileptonic (B) over bar -> Dl (nu) over bar (l) decay. By a combined consideration of the recent experimental and lattice QCD data, we determine precisely the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element vertical bar V-cb vertical bar = 41.01(75) x 10(-3) and the ratio R-D = BR((B) over bar -> D tau(nu) over bar (tau))/BR((B) over bar -> Dl (nu) over bar (l)) = 0.301(5). The coefficients in this parametrization, related to phase shifts by sumrulelike dispersion relations and hence called phase moments, encode important scattering information of the (B) over bar (D) over bar interactions which are poorly known so far. Thus, we give strong hints about the existence of at least one bound and one virtual (B) over bar (D) over bar S-wave 0(+) states, subject to uncertainties produced by potentially sizable inelastic effects. This formalism is also applicable for any other semileptonic processes induced by the weak b -> c transition.

Abstract: We apply the general formalism derived by Penalva et al. [Phys. Rev. D 101, 113004 (2020)] to the semileptonic decay of pseudoscalar mesons containing a b quark. While present (B) over bar -> D-(*()) data give the strongest evidence in favor of lepton flavor universality violation, the observables that are normally considered are not able to distinguish between different new physics (NP) scenarios. In the above reference we discussed the relevant role that the various contributions to the double differential decay widths d(2)Gamma (d omega d cos theta(l)) and d(2)Gamma (d omega dE(l)) could play to this end. Here omega is the product of the two hadron fourvelocities, theta(l) is the angle made by the final lepton and final hadron three-momenta in the center of mass of the final two-lepton system, and E-l is the final charged lepton energy in the laboratory system. The formalism was applied by Penalva et al. to the analysis of the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c) semileptonic decay, showing the new observables were able to tell apart different NP scenarios. Here we analyze the (B) over barc -> eta(c)tau(nu) over bar (tau), (B) over barc -> J/psi tau(nu) over bar (tau), (B) over bar -> D tau(nu) over bar (tau) and (B) over bar -> D*tau(nu) over bar (tau) , semileptonic decays. We find that, as a general rule, the (B) over barc -> J/psi observables, even including (tau) polarization, are less optimal for distinguishing between NP scenarios than those obtained from (B) over barc -> eta(c) decays, or those presented by Penalva et al. for the related Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c) semileptonic decay. Finally, we show that (B) over bar -> D and (B) over barc -> eta(c) , and (B) over bar -> D* and (B) over barc -> J/psi decay observables exhibit similar behaviors.

Abstract: A coupled-channel approach is applied to the charged tetraquark state T-cc(+). recently discovered by the LHCb Collaboration. The parameters of the interaction are fixed by a fit to the observed line shape in the three-body (DD0)-D-0 pi(+) channel. Special attention is paid to the three-body dynamics in the T-cc(+) due to the finite life time of the D*. An approach to the T-cc(+) is argued to be self-consistent only if both manifestations of the three-body dynamics, the pion exchange between the D and D* mesons and the finite D* width, are taken into account simultaneously to ensure that three-body unitarity is preserved. This is especially important to precisely extract the pole position in the complex energy plane whose imaginary part is very sensitive to the details of the coupled-channel scheme employed. The (DD0)-D-0 and (DD+)-D-0 invariant mass distributions, predicted based on this analysis, are in good agreement with the LHCb data. The low-energy expansion of the D* D scattering amplitude is performed and the low-energy constants (the scattering length and effective range) are extracted. The compositeness parameter of the T-cc(+) is found to be close to unity, which implies that the T-cc(+) is a hadronic molecule generated by the interactions in the D*D-+(0) and D*D-0(+) channels. Employing heavy-quark spin symmetry, an isoscalar D* D* molecular partner of the T-cc(+) with J(P) = 1(+ )is predicted under the assumption that the DD* -D* D* coupled-channel effects can be neglected.

Abstract: We benefit from a recent lattice determination of the full set of vector, axial and tensor form factors for the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c)* (2595)tau(nu) over bar (tau) and Lambda(c) (2625)tau(nu) over bar (tau) semileptonic decays to study the possible role of these two reactions in lepton flavor universality violation studies. Using an effective theory approach, we analyze different observables that can be accessed through the visible kinematics of the charged particles produced in the tau decay, for which we consider the pi(-)nu(tau), rho(-) nu(tau) and mu(-)(nu) over bar (mu)nu(tau) channels. We compare the results obtained in the Standard Model and other schemes containing new physics (NP) interactions, with either left-handed or right-handed neutrino operators. We find a discriminating power between models similar to the one of the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c) decay, although somewhat hindered in this case by the larger errors of the Lambda(b) -> Lambda(c)* lattice form factors. Notwithstanding this, the analysis of these reactions is already able to discriminate between some of the NP scenarios and its potentiality will certainly improve when more precise form factors are available.